A few questions that we received in response to the financial update provided last Sunday might best be boiled down to this question: Why save so much money? Nobody asked that specifically, but there were three similar questions that I think this response will satisfy. First, its best to look at the percentage saved rather than the actual number. Most of us are not used to seeing a savings of six figures…uhm…LEFT of the decimal! In our first three years as a church we have saved 19% of our total giving. It’s also important to understand how that savings breaks down. About ¼ of it comes from a start-up gift provided by Heritage when we launched; Another ¼ is set aside from our annual budget for missions and church growth; And the final ½ is a result of a combination of giving in excess and spending under the annual budgets. Which can be attributed to good stewardship, but also a attendance growth rate that has exceeded all expectations.
Another way to interpret the question, Why save so much? is, Why not invest the resources God has provided rather than save them? This is a very good question and it comes from Jesus’ teaching referred to as the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25). Oversimplifying, Jesus suggests that God will not be pleased if we “hid” the resources He has provided. That, instead, we should bring glory to God by employing and investing the blessings so that they can be multiplied. It is true, we don’t want to simply hoard or “hide” what God has supplied, but we DO want to invest wisely, strategically, and through partnerships with whom we’ve built solid relationships. Be assured, we are always on the look-out for precisely how God wants us to use what He has provided, but also remember that we HAVE invested 81%…and, WOW, what a return!
Don’t misrepresent the term “bully.”
This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to the White House as a “bully pulpit,” by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt famously used the word bully as an adjective meaning “superb” or “wonderful” (a more common expression in his time than it is today.
Is the church really the place to advocate for ones agenda?
Thanks, Pastor Mike. That provides better insight and understanding – much appreciated.
I am so thankful to be a part of a church that has nothing to hide, nothing to glaze over, nothing to conveniently-fail-to-mention. Thank you for continuing to lead Vista in the areas where God wants us moving.
Last Sunday was our first at Vista and I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a more open and honest presentation of church finances to a congregation. I’ve been involved in ministry in one form or another for at least ten years and there’s always been some sort of misunderstanding about how money is spent in the church and where all the money is going. You lay it all out there for everyone to see. Your honesty and transparency are what makes us want to come back next Sunday. Keep it up! You’ve got an amazing atmosphere at Vista!
Well I say in the words of Teddy Roosevelt, “Bully”! You go team. Save as much as you can as long as it’s not coming out of giving / missions (and I know that it’s not). So keep saving. Assuming that we will want to build or buy a church building some day would God not be pleased if we could pay cash and have no debt service at all. A wise man once said “earn all you can, give all you can and save all you can”. (thanks Mike) I say amen and bully.
Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.
Allen Taylor